7th – Teen Living

Course Description

This course helps students develop their own self by learning to become a more independent person.  This trait is learned through developing skills about healthy nutrition, maintaining a clean work environment, following directions, and producing successful foods. Teen Living focuses on developing independence, nurturing strong families, and living a healthy lifestyle. This course will prepare students to manage and balance the demands of a personal, home, and work life in the 21^st century.

The Design Cycle is continued in 7^th grade.  This concept works on the thought process of design and innovation.  The assessment is based on how the student got to the final product, not necessarily what the final product was.  We work on investigating, planning, creating, and then evaluating the process of how to create our products.

The following student goals will be addressed within the course content:

• Develop problem-solving, critical, and creative thinking skills.
• Recognize and respect other people’s point-of-views.
• Feel accomplishment and success in order to improve self-worth and self-esteem.
• Increase self-awareness of strengths and weaknesses in and out of the classroom.

Unit of Studies

• Strengthening Families and Communication (3 weeks)
  Students will consider their role in contributing to a strong family, and learn some positive communication skills. Home Chores projects will begin.
• Cyber Safety and Etiquette (1 week)
  Students will identify safe and unsafe situations and practices online, including social media etiquette, and privacy issues.
• Foods Around the USA (6 weeks)
  Students will learn about the geography, culture, and cuisine of different regions within the United States, while developing their kitchen skills.
• Child Development/Babysitting (2 weeks)
  Students will learn about the development of children in order to provide for their safety, and choose age-appropriate activities and books to use while babysitting.
• Sewing Skills (4 weeks)
  Students will learn basic hand- and machine-sewing techniques, for the purpose of mending clothing, and creative expression. Students will complete a project using the sewing machine.
• Money Management (2 weeks)
  Students will learn the difference between wants and needs, and the importance of saving versus spending.

Assessments:

Late assignments are accepted without penalty up to one week after due date.
After one week, late assignments are subject to penalty of one letter grade.
Grades reflect student achievement, not behavior.

Quarterly grades will round up when the percentage is .5 or higher.

IB Criteria

Criterion A:  Inquiring and analyzing (Maximum: 8)

Students are presented with a design situation, from which they identify a problem that needs to be solved. They analyze the need for a solution and conduct an inquiry into the nature of the problem.

In order to reach the aims of design, students should be able to:

• explain and justify the need for a solution to a problem for a specified client/target audience
• identify and prioritize the primary and secondary research needed to develop a solution to the problem
• analyze a range of existing products that inspire a solution to the problem
• develop a detailed design brief which summarizes the analysis of relevant research.

Criterion B:  Developing ideas (Maximum: 8)

Students write a detailed specification, which drives the development of a solution. They present the solution.

In order to reach the aims of design, students should be able to:

• develop a design specification which clearly states the success criteria for the design of a solution
• develop a range of feasible design ideas which can be correctly interpreted by others
• present the final chosen design and justify its selection
• develop accurate and detailed planning drawings/diagrams and outline the requirements for the creation of the chosen solution.

Criterion C:  Creating the solution (Maximum: 8)

Students plan the creation of the chosen solution and follow the plan to create a prototype sufficient for testing and evaluation.

In order to reach the aims of design, students should be able to:

• construct a logical plan, which describes the efficient use of time and resources, sufficient for peers to be able to follow to create the solution
• demonstrate excellent technical skills when making the solution
• follow the plan to create the solution, which functions as intended
• fully justify changes made to the chosen design and plan when making the solution
• present the solution as a whole, either:
  • in electronic form, or
  • through photographs of the solution from different angles, showing details.

Criterion D:  Evaluating (Maximum: 8)

Students design tests to evaluate the solution, carry out those tests and objectively evaluate the success or the tests. Students identify areas where the solution could be improved and explain how their solution will impact on the client or target audience.

In order to reach the aims of design, students should be able to:

• design detailed and relevant testing methods, which generate data, to measure the success of the solution
• critically evaluate the success of the solution against the design specification
• explain how the solution could be improved
• explain the impact of the solution on the client/target audience.

APS Grading Scale

*IB assessments and products are assigned a score from 1 – 8.